NPR News: 09-16-2025 12AM EDT
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Why is President Trump deploying National Guard troops to Memphis?
Live from MPR News in Washington, I'm Shay Stevens. President Trump plans to deploy National Guard troops to Memphis with the blessing of Tennessee's governor. Trump says the move is necessary to crack down on violent crime.
In twenty twenty four, Memphis had the highest violent crime rate, the highest property crime rate, and the third highest murder rate of any city in the nation. Other than that, they're doing quite well, thank you.
Trump signs a proclamation to create a Memphis tax force, which will consist of National Guard members and various law enforcement agencies. He says federal officers will likely be sent to Chicago next. The US military has carried out a second deadly airstrike on a small boat in the Caribbean. NPR Squill Lawrence reports.
What details did the administration release about the Caribbean airstrike on a drug‑smuggling boat?
The Trump administration says both vessels were US bound drug shipments from Venezuela.
President Trump posted a video of an airstrike on social media saying the US had confirmed the three people on a small boat in international waters were carrying drugs on board. Two US officials who requested anonymity because they're not authorized to speak publicly told NPR that Congress had been notified of the strike. The previous strike on a Venezuelan boat killed eleven people who appeared to be heading back to shore. President Trump has moved ships and troops into the waters off Venezuela and says the US is hunting what he called narco terrorists. Venezuela is considered a minor player in smuggling of cocaine to the US, the far deadlier drug, fentanyl, is made and smuggled into the US from Mexico, Quill Lawrence NPR News.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reiterated US support for Israel. Rubio's two day visit to the Middle East comes amid growing international criticism of Israel's attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar. More from MPR's Kerry Khan.
How did Secretary of State Marco Rubio justify U.S. support for Israel during his Middle East visit?
Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met, then spoke with reporters. Both warned Hamas to surrender and release all hostages. Rubio wouldn't say if the U.S. backs Israel's latest offensive to occupy Gaza City, insisting it would be better for Hamas to lay down its arms.
But we'll continue to pursue that route. It's the ideal outcome, but it may require ultimately a concise military operation to eliminate them.
Netanyahu refused to rule out another strike on Hamas abroad, like Doha, which he says sent an important message.
And that is you can hide, you can run, but we'll get you terrorists. They think they enjoy immunity, they'll do it again and again and again.
What are the main claims in Maureen Comey’s lawsuit to regain her federal job?
And if you deny them that immunity, they'll think twice.
Kerry Con NPR News Tel Aviv. Fired U.S. attorney attorney Maureen Comey is suing the Trump administration to get her job back. Comey says she was fired without cause in July only months after receiving an outstanding performance review. In her complaint, she says she was illegally fired because of her preceded political views. It also alleges she was let go because her father is former FBI director James Comey who Trump fired in twenty seventeen. This is NPR. A Texas Tech student who was arrested after mocking the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been fined and released.
Why was Texas Tech student Cameron Booker arrested and what new campus protest law applies?
Bradbird of member station KTTZ has details.
Texas Tech Police have confirmed 18-year-old Cameron Booker was arrested Friday afternoon, charged with simple assault on the campus free speech area. According to officials with Lubbock County Jail, Booker was released on Saturday. Class C assault is a misdemeanor in Texas with a maximum penalty of a $500 fine. While it did not reference the incident specifically, the university issued a statement saying, quote, any behavior that denigrates victims of The violence is reprehensible, end quote. Governor Abbott shared the video of Booker on Twitter saying she quote picked the wrong school to taunt Kirk's death. College students in Texas face a new law that started September first limiting on campus protests.
For NPR News, I'm Brad Burt in Lubbock.
How is the U.S. government handling the TikTok‑China dispute and related trade tensions?
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant has announced a framework of a deal with with this the China based video sharing platform TikTok.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
Why is President Trump deploying National Guard troops to Memphis?
0:02–0:47
2
What details did the administration release about the Caribbean airstrike on a drug‑smuggling boat?
0:47–1:48
3
How did Secretary of State Marco Rubio justify U.S. support for Israel during his Middle East visit?
1:48–2:28
4
What are the main claims in Maureen Comey’s lawsuit to regain her federal job?
2:28–3:09
5
Why was Texas Tech student Cameron Booker arrested and what new campus protest law applies?
3:09–3:58
6
How is the U.S. government handling the TikTok‑China dispute and related trade tensions?
3:58–4:39